Fridae

Besides watching some amazing performances by Madonna, Melissa Etheridge and The Police during Live Earth, I also really enjoyed seeing Kelly Clarkson play Giants Stadium on Saturday.

The embattled singer has been the topic of much discussion after her very public feud with the mighty Clive Davis and their battle to control her career. I think a lot of people have been carried away by all the bad publicity surrounding her new album "My December" and got sucked into all the negativity.

I agree that "My December" is not really a singles album per se, but I also think that the album has not received a fair chance with all that negativity overpowering the music. It might even have been one of the reasons the CD has performed "below expectations" in the charts and Clarkson's decision to postpone her summer tour.

One should wonder since when selling nearly 300,000 copies in the first week is considered a disappointment.

Most critics appear to zoom in on the notion that "My December" is not "pop" enough and lacking "hooks." In other words, they seem to be hung up on the fact that the record doesn't have a worthy sequel to "Since U Been Gone," a song that united pop lovers and crunchy hipsters.

But let's leave "Since U Been Gone" for the pop masterpiece it was and not turn into a curse for Clarkson. Instead, let's focus on the remarkable pop artist that Clarkson is with her powerful voice, her straight up attitude and a strong drive to make music that is distinctly hers and not the result of some Swedish millionaire producer's soundboard.

Clarkson's new single "Sober" is an excellent example of her artistic progression. She sings it from her toes up, creating a spine-chilling epic that not only shows off her amazing pipes, but also her talent as a songwriter.

She conveys seemingly trivial, yet universal emotions in some very fitting terms with memorable lyrics like, "Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers," and "at the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me." That's meaningful stuff.

Sure, it is not as slick as the Disney friendly "Breakaway" or the ultra-catchy "Since U Been Gone," but Clarkson speaks her truth in "Sober." And in a world dominated by superficial, throw-way pop, I respect her for standing up to record music that she believes in and that is actually quite good. Turn it up, have a listen and decide for yourself. Still skeptical? Keep listening until the 3-minute mark when the real meaty part kicks in.

Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [WMA]
Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [Real]
Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [Quicktime]
Watch Kelly Clarkson "Sober" (Live)